Torpedo-deflecting means for ships



y c. H. CASPAR.

TORPEDO DEFLECTING MEANS FOR SHIPS.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 5. I917.

Patented July 15, 1919.

2 SHEE TS-SHEET I.

C. H. CASPAR.

TORPEDO DEFLECTI'NG MEANS FOR SHIPS.

APPLICATION FILED MAY.5 I917.

Patented July 15, 1919.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

THE COLUMBIA PLANOGRAPH c0., WASHiNGTON. D c.

iinirnn s'rarns rnrnn'r onnrcn CHARLES H. GASPAB, OF PHILADELPHIA,PENNSYLVANIA.

TORPEDO-DEFLECTING MEANS FOR SHIPS.

wi est.

Application filed May 5, 1917. Serial No. 166,597.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, GHARLns H. (insure, a citizen of the United States,residing in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, have invented certainImprovements in Torpedo-Deflecting Means for Ships, of which thefollowing is a specification.

My invention relates to ships; and the object of my invention is toprovide a ship with simple and effective means for resistingan attack bya torpedo.

In carrying out my invention, I proposeto equip a ship with a nozzle ora plurality of nozzles for discharging a stream or streams of water orother fluid into the sea at high velocity; in some instances suchstreams being directly aimed at a torpedo when the same can be seen, andin other instances such streams being continuously ejected so that thewater may be agitated or disturbed to an extent sufficient to set upcurrents that will divert a torpedo from its path and prevent itsstriking the ship.

For this purpose, in one instance I may provide a ship with a continuouswater-pipe running the length of the same, on both sides;preferablyconnected at the stern and, if desired, also connected at thebow. Such pipe will be provided with a plurality of universally-jointednozzles at intervals, and will be connected with a powerful pump so thatat any desired point around the ship a powerful stream of water may bedischarged from any one of the nozzles. Such stream of water will besufficient to divert an oncoming torpedo and cause the same to avoidpossible contact with the ship. When it is desired to provide continuousstreams of water or other fluid to set up currents in the sea, thenozzles may be submerged, and a plurality of the same may be used.

These and other features of my invention are more fully describedhereinafter, referones being had to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1, is diagrammatic plan view of a ship equipped withstreamdischarging means within the scope of my invention.

Fig. 2, is a diagrammatic sectional view of the ship showing a nozzle inaction.

Fig. 3, is a face view illustrating a nozzle mounting within the scopeof my invention.

Fig. 4, is a side elevation of the same.

Fig. 5, is a plan view of a ship showing another arrangement of nozzleswithin the scope of my invention, and

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented July 15, 1919.

Fig. 6, is a side elevation of the same.

In Fig. 1, of the drawings, 1 represents the hull of a ship, which maybe of any type, with a pipe 2 disposed adjacent the sides or rail at anyone of the decks of the same; shown in the present instance as at theupper deck, and such pipe is connected at the stern as at 3. If desired,such pipe or conduit may also be connected at the bow.

Fitted to this pipe at intervals throughout the length of the ship areuniversally mounted nozzles 4L suitably supported by standards 5 ofconvenient size and shape and operatively connected with the pipe 1, and6 represents diagrammatically pumping apparatus, which may include amotor; a suction pump and a force pump, operated by any means and whichmay be located at some point amidships. This structure is intended todevelop an enormous pressure which may be discharged through any one ofthe universally mounted nozzles; such nozzles having a lateral range ofmovement of approximately 90 and a depressible range of substantiallythe same extent. The nozzles will be of such size that a stream ofenormous force may be delivered therefrom, which will have the effect ofdiverting a torpedo from its path and turning the same away from theship.

The stand or carrier for the nozzles will be equipped with properconnections to insure passage of the water from the pipe to the nozzles,and with means to turn the nozzles as may be desired, and all of theconnections will be provided with suitable valves and other parts commonto hydraulic equipment. In addition, the nozzles may be separatelyvalved and controlled by a handle or wheel 7, and have the sights 8 and9.

In some instances, it may be desirable to discharge a stream or streamsof water or other liquid at high velocity from submerged nozzles, and inFigs. 5 and 6, I have shown such an arrangement in which nozzles aredisposed alongside the hull and preferably at a point below the surfaceof the water and in such position as to create an unusual and highlydisturbed condition of the water at the sides of the ship for affectingthe course of the torpedo and diverting it from the other sets ofnozzles 10 and 10 may be distributed along the hull to effect thedesired action. These submerged nozzles may be used with the nozzles 4:which are mounted substantially at or near one of the deck lines, asindicated in Figs. 1 and2, or they may be used alone. In addition, thesubmerged nozzles may be single as indicated, or a plurality may beemployed, horizontally or vertically disposed, or nozzles having anelongated slot, horizontally or vertically disposed, may be employed.The object of this arrangement isto set up such a violent disturbance ofthe water as to produce torpedo deflecting currentsfand such dischargewill be continuous when passing through a danger zone.

Under some circumstances, it might be desirable to introduce somethinginto the. water or other fluid discharged from the nozzles, such as aprojectile or projectiles, or powerful acid, or something of suchnature; all of which will be within the scope of my invention.

I claim:

1. The method of protecting a vessel from torpedoes and the likeconsisting in creating a wall of real-wardly and outwardly flowingliquid alongside the vessel 2. Apparatus for protecting a vessel fromtorpedoes and the like including means for creating a wall of rearwardlyand outwardly flowing liquid alongside the vessel.

3. The combination, with a ship, of means carried thereby and designedto discharge fluid therefrom at a plurality of points for the purpose ofcreating a wall of rearwardly ahnd outwardly flowing liquid alongsidethe s 1p.

l. The combination, with a ship, of means carried thereby and designedto discharge fluid therefrom at a high velocity and at a plurality ofpoints for the purpose of creating a wall of rearwardly and outwardlyflowing liquid alongside the ship.

5. The combination, with a ship, of submerged means carried thereby anddesigned to discharge fluid therefrom for the purpose of creating a wallof rearwardly and outwardly flowing liquid alongside the ship.

6. 'lhe combination, with a ship, of a pipe extending along the sides ofthe same, pumping apparatus in operative connection with said pipe, andnozzles operatively connected to said pipe for discharging water intothe sea to create a wall ofrearwardly and outwardly flowing liquidalongside the ship.

7. 'lhecombination, with a ship, of a pipe extending along the sides ofthe same, pump ing apparatus in operative connection with said pipe,nozzles operatively connected to said pipe for discharging water intothe sea, supports for said nozzles occupying relatively fixed positionswith respect to the ship; said nozzles being universally mounted in saidsupports whereby their range is such as to permit of discharge of fluidinto the sea to create a wall of rearwardly and outwardly flowing liquidalongside the ship.

8. The combination with a ship, of pumping mechanism, and a nozzle fordischarging a jet of high velocity and pressure into and through thewater through which the ship is passing for the purpose of creating awall of rearwardly and outwardly flowing liquid alongside the same.

CHARLES H. CASPAR.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner of ratents, Washington, D. G.

